Missing the journey more than the destination

Coronavirus has changed the way we think, the way we lead our lives and even, the way we holiday.

For a travel enthusiast, the virus has come as the most unwelcome guest, throwing all plans in disarray. If experts are to be believed, the virus is here to stay for a few months, to say the least. All vacation plans look like a strict no-no this year. Many may argue that visiting one’s dream destination is still possible through the window of the virtual world. All we need to do is to run a search of the place and its most famous sites are there on the computer screen within a fraction of a second! Though the images and videos are all too captivating and informative, but does it quench our thirst for travel? If the answer is no, what is it that we miss?

If I look back in time, instances come to the mind where the journey mattered more than the destination. A few years ago, an elderly Austrian woman at the Vienna international airport stopped my 13-year-old son and me and explained in broken English that my son needed to have a monkey cap as it was unbearably cold outside. As soon as I gestured to her that I was not carrying one, she took off her own woollen cap, handed it over to my son and walked away smiling. My belief in humanity stood reinforced. Would such a beautiful moment be possible in the present day scenario of travel restrictions?

My thoughts went back to my own childhood when train journeys were an integral part of growing up. I have memories of lively conversations made and new relationships developed over a train journey. More often than not, the elderly passenger seated on the opposite berth would give a new insight into problems we confronted at home.

Conversations would range from global affairs to Indian politics to the travails of our cricket team to virtually any topic under the sun. And, there would be no trolling. The shared moments, shared worries, shared laughter and shared frustration over the train running late, all remain etched in my memory.

The thrill of travel went beyond conversations. The sight, smell and taste of the local cuisine was an essential part of the travel experience. The spicy chilli pakoras on the way to Jaipur; the small packets of oranges sold on trains around Nagpur; or the tangy taste of the freshly plucked cherries and plums on the toy train from Kalka to Shimla, are experiences to cherish for a lifetime.

Travel also conjures up a set of images which relate to the landscape that greets us on the way. It is like a live geography and biology class. I have a rich collection of pine cones collected over journeys through the Himalayas. The tall eucalyptus would give way to the sprightly pine as we drove to Dharampur.

Further on, the pines made way for the mighty deodars as we neared Shimla, providing us a panoramic overview of the otherwise drab geography chapter titled: The Vegetation of India.

Indeed, the journey is more important than the destination and this year, we’re sorely missing being on the go with coronavirus having grounded us all.

THOUGH THE IMAGES AND VIDEOS ARE ALL TOO CAPTIVATING AND INFORMATIVE, BUT DOES IT QUENCH OUR THIRST FOR TRAVEL?